Zoo Management

Would you love to start your exciting and rewarding career in the zoo industry, but without the commitment of a full degree?

This one-year full-time course benefits from a unique combination of academic study with industry focused training in the management of zoo animals, including extensive access to our wide range of exotic species including primates, small carnivores, reptiles, amphibians and birds of prey.

As part of this course, you will develop a range of academic and professional skills, related to the zoo industry. Through practical husbandry sessions, in-class discussions and behavioural observations, you will gain an appreciation for the goals and challenges of managing animals in zoos. This knowledge can be applied to a diversity of careers in large or small-scale collections.

Our lecturers have many years of experience working in zoos across the sector, in a wide variety of roles which zoos can offer. They use this experience combined with their passion and knowledge.

The Cert HE would allow you to progress to a range of more specific zoo modules, such as zoo training, animal health and disease and zoo enclosure design, through further study on the Foundation Degree in Zoo Management

Course Features

• Access to our on-site zoo, home to over 1,000 animals and 150 species including ring-tailed lemurs, porcupines, marmosets, otters, capybaras, owls, bearded dragons, kingsnakes, dart frogs, marine fish and much more

• Volunteer staff opportunities at our on-site zoo

• Directly transferable skills such as exotic animal husbandry

Career Options

• Junior zookeeper

• Rescue centre animal care

• Conservation education or outreach officer

• Progression to Foundation Degree in Zoo Management

Course Modules

• Scientific Communication

• Animal Husbandry and Handling

• Zoos and Conservation

• Animal Anatomy and Physiology

• Evolution and Adaptation

• Introduction to Animal Behaviour

We design a wide range of assessments that will help you to develop industry standard skills and knowledge. The assessments consist of multiple-choice questions and short essays, practical assessments and presentations and written coursework. This written coursework can be in the form of reports, essays or posters, depending on the module. For Husbandry and Handling, there are assessed practical sessions, reflections and talks.

Feedback

Feedback is supplied via Turnitin or directly from the module tutor. The majority of submissions are made via Turnitin and feedback for coursework is provided within twenty working days after the submission date.

Written feedback will be supported verbally should the student require clarification. Formative assessment feedback will be provided at the time of completion where possible, with more detailed summative feedback for reports.